“Light The Path” Orange Shirt
Today, and everyday, we stand with and for Indigenous peoples in co-creating culturally safe and honouring spaces, places, systems and opportunities for our Indigenous children and youth to live into their greatest potential and dreams. In doing so, we have partnered with two amazing artists to create orange shirts to honor residential school survivors- along with the most cherished children gone too soon in the genocide committed by the residential school system in Canada.
Thank you to Musqueam Artist Debra Sparrow, and grandson Isaiah and Cyler (also Hope and Health coaches), for creating the artwork for the 2022 orange shirt. The full meaning of the shirt is explained by Debra and Isaiah here.
Light the Path designed by Musqueam Artist Debra Sparrow, in collaboration with her grandsons Isaiah, and Cyler (Cyler in image featured here).
“Finding these (215) children, touched so deeply to everyone- not just Indigenous people…but everyone… around the world, and seemed to have sparked something deep within us…as if the children have shone a light, and the earth opened up and instead of the darkness, the light came through… and the stars- that every one of them is now- are shining back at us and they are going to light the path now...”
All net proceeds will go towards Hope and Health sport for development community based programming.
Watch the “Light the Path” Video of Debra Sparrow and grandson Isaiah sharing the story behind the design.
Video credits: Zachary Ratcliffe
“I hope that...young people are inspired by what I do and it shows them that just because you’re a certain age doesn’t mean that you can’t do something that’s going to be meaningful or powerful. If you have something to say that can change the world- why not say it, right?”
This star “bubble” was created by Musqueam artist Kamryn Sparrow to hold space for you to write and share your reconciliation commitment statement
A CALL TO ACTION
We invite you to join our “Light the Path” movement by sharing your commitment
Jacqueline Tyrer, UBC Thunderbirds Women’s Soccer Team member shares her reconciliation commitment
towards reconciliation and to “light the path” in your own special way. Please fill out the commitment star (above) and take a picture of you holding the star in your “Light the Path” orange shirt.
Please upload to your own social media and tag @hopeandhealth4l and/or send directly to us at: bethechange@hopeandhealth.org. By sending to us or tagging, you provide your consent for us to share and post through our social media channels. If you post, please include the hashtag #lightthepath
Thank you for supporting our work and co-creating a better future for Indigenous children and youth.
“Be the Change” Orange Shirt created by Maynard Johnny Jr.
Maynard Johnny Jr., Coast Salish Artist, tells the story of his orange shirt. He shares his truth based on his lived experiences, which are the catalyst to the “be the change” movement inspired by this orange shirt.